USGA Hints at US Open Return for Merion in the Future

The United States Golf Association (USGA) have flirted with the idea of bringing the US Open back to Merion, if the club and local residents are happy to do so.

The US Open returns to Merion for the first time since 1981due to problems with the infrastructure at the venue.

The practice range is located on the West Course and the gardens of adjacent houses are being used for corporate hospitality, but USGA executive director Mike Davis would be happy to return to the club.

Davis said he had “not seen anything to say we would not come back here,” but added: “Personally I’d already like to see us return. I’m not sure Merion wants us to return.”

With the range a long way from the first and 11th tees which will be used in the first two rounds, players will be shuttled between the two locations, although fears of players missing their tee-times remain.

Graeme McDowell warned: “If you want 50 minutes hitting golf balls, you’re going to have to be getting out of your car literally an hour and 30 minutes before your tee time.”

The tournament committee will have some leeway in assessing penalties or disqualification for late arrivals on the tee, but Davis stressed that responsibility remained with the players.

“We go through this whether it’s at Pebble Beach, Bethpage or wherever,” Davis added. “We have a wonderful transportation system set up. They can get from point A to point B without traffic. That’s not going to be an issue.

“But if we erred, then we would make provisions to where the player wouldn’t be penalised.”

Meanwhile, the USGA are again refusing to change their policy on preferred lies despite the adverse weather which has saturated the course this week.

USGA vice-president Tom O’Toole said: “It’s been a long-standing philosophical point of view from the USGA to not adopt that local rule (allowing preferred lies) in our national championships.

“And the current championship committee is consistent with that long-standing philosophical point of view.”